4 replies to this topic

[pikey7]

Does anyone have a decent picture of the A-pillar build up without a front wing on?

The PO on mine has had a bit of welding done to put the front end back together. and I mean a bit! The Drivers side A-panel is held on with a tack at the bottom, a tack in the middle to the front wing, and by filler at the top! The gusset is rusted through, the hinge panel doesn't look too healthy, and there's a nice big hole in the scuttle! I'm too scared to look at the passenger side!

I read through miniworld, and there's supposed to be a reinforcement between the a-panel and the hinge panel?

Anyhow, I'm not too scared of it. the bulkhead seems solid, so I'm thinking of replacing the gussets,complete scuttle and the hinge panels, and then fitting a fibreglass front with the A-panels built in. That way it limits the amount of welding (that someone else has to do!).

But, I'd like to see what a proper (solid!) one looks like so I can assess the work to be done.

ta!
Mike

[Guess-Works.com]

Correct A panels are only welded at top bottom and middle, the wing is spot welded to the apanel and inner wing, but not to the scuttle..

As for everything else, that typical mini too... the closing panel above the vent has rotted allowing drime and grot to get into the scuttle and rot it from the inside out. the top of the fitch panel ( above and around the air vent ) is probably a pile of rust and has worked it's was down the hinge...

If you cut it all out you may end up with something like this...

[Guess-Works.com]

After that shock.... here's a picture of the other side after the work had been done...

[pikey7]

ouch! Sweet second pic though thanks. Just what I was looking for.

I don't think the fitch panel is bad. surface rust yes, but the "poke-it-with-a-screwdiver" test seems to pass OK. IIRC, there's a repair panel for the hinge panel. "just" gotta cut the old one out and have it MIG'd to the old one right? Even the sill seems remarkably solid. The rust on the hinge seems to have stopped just below the door hinge, so it hasn't got that low. I may have got "lucky"!

I thought the A-panel was spot welded to the hinge panel aswell though? There's some spots showing through on the passenger side up the back edge. (that'll no doubt need replacing!)

Any experiences with SMB? (Smudger right?) he's looking favorites for the flip front at the moment 'because he supplies it with A-panels. I don't suppose anyone has a pic of a flip with the A-panel incorporated? I asked Smudger, but I'm an impatient %$&*!!

Time to go buy a spot weld drill and a new cutting disk! :grin:

[Guess-Works.com]

Thought about doing it with the car above, but when hinged the a panels will scrape up the door, so it has to be a one piece lift off...